Guinea Pig Manure and Mineral Fertilizers Enhance the Yield and Nutritional Quality of Hard Yellow Maize on the Peruvian Coast
Sustainable fertilization using local resources such as manure is crucial for soil health. This study evaluated the potential of guinea pig manure to replace mineral fertilizers in hard yellow maize (hybrid INIA 619) under Peruvian coastal conditions. A split-plot design tested four doses of guinea...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Emilee Calero-Rios Miryam Borbor-Ponce Sphyros Lastra Richard Solórzano |
| author_facet | Emilee Calero-Rios Miryam Borbor-Ponce Sphyros Lastra Richard Solórzano |
| author_sort | Emilee Calero-Rios |
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| description | Sustainable fertilization using local resources such as manure is crucial for soil health. This study evaluated the potential of guinea pig manure to replace mineral fertilizers in hard yellow maize (hybrid INIA 619) under Peruvian coastal conditions. A split-plot design tested four doses of guinea pig manure (0, 2, 5, 10 t⋅ha<sup>−1</sup>) and four levels of mineral fertilization (0%, 50%, 75%, 100%). The study assessed plant height, ear characteristics, yield, and nutritional quality parameters. The results indicated that 100% mineral fertilization led to the highest plant height (229.67 cm) and grain weight (141.8 g). Yields of 9.19 and 9.08 t⋅ha<sup>−1</sup> were achieved with 5 and 10 t⋅ha<sup>−1</sup> of manure, while 50% mineral fertilization gave 8.8 t⋅ha<sup>−1</sup>, similar to the full dose (8.7 t⋅ha<sup>−1</sup>). The protein content was highest with 10 t⋅ha<sup>−1</sup> of manure combined with mineral fertilization. However, no significant differences were found between the 50%, 75%, and 100% mineral fertilizer doses. In conclusion, applying guinea pig manure improved nutrient use efficiency, yield, and grain protein quality in maize, reducing the need for mineral fertilizers by up to 50%. This provides a sustainable fertilization strategy for agricultural systems. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a54be01bfdcf4244bfab833864e0fd2b2025-08-20T03:30:24ZengMDPI AGAgrochemicals2813-31452025-04-0142610.3390/agrochemicals4020006Guinea Pig Manure and Mineral Fertilizers Enhance the Yield and Nutritional Quality of Hard Yellow Maize on the Peruvian CoastEmilee Calero-Rios0Miryam Borbor-Ponce1Sphyros Lastra2Richard Solórzano3Centro Experimental La Molina, Dirección de Supervisión y Monitoreo de las Estaciones Experimentales Agrarias, Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), Lima 15024, PeruDepartamento de Agronomía y Zootecnia, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Av. Juan Pablo II s/n, Trujillo 130101, PeruDirección de Recursos Genéticos y Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), Av. La Libertad s/n Frente Campo Ferial Pichari, La Convención, Cusco 08850, PeruCentro Experimental La Molina, Dirección de Supervisión y Monitoreo de las Estaciones Experimentales Agrarias, Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), Lima 15024, PeruSustainable fertilization using local resources such as manure is crucial for soil health. This study evaluated the potential of guinea pig manure to replace mineral fertilizers in hard yellow maize (hybrid INIA 619) under Peruvian coastal conditions. A split-plot design tested four doses of guinea pig manure (0, 2, 5, 10 t⋅ha<sup>−1</sup>) and four levels of mineral fertilization (0%, 50%, 75%, 100%). The study assessed plant height, ear characteristics, yield, and nutritional quality parameters. The results indicated that 100% mineral fertilization led to the highest plant height (229.67 cm) and grain weight (141.8 g). Yields of 9.19 and 9.08 t⋅ha<sup>−1</sup> were achieved with 5 and 10 t⋅ha<sup>−1</sup> of manure, while 50% mineral fertilization gave 8.8 t⋅ha<sup>−1</sup>, similar to the full dose (8.7 t⋅ha<sup>−1</sup>). The protein content was highest with 10 t⋅ha<sup>−1</sup> of manure combined with mineral fertilization. However, no significant differences were found between the 50%, 75%, and 100% mineral fertilizer doses. In conclusion, applying guinea pig manure improved nutrient use efficiency, yield, and grain protein quality in maize, reducing the need for mineral fertilizers by up to 50%. This provides a sustainable fertilization strategy for agricultural systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3145/4/2/6<i>Cavia porcellus</i>inorganic fertilizerflint cornproximate analysiscorn grain protein |
| spellingShingle | Emilee Calero-Rios Miryam Borbor-Ponce Sphyros Lastra Richard Solórzano Guinea Pig Manure and Mineral Fertilizers Enhance the Yield and Nutritional Quality of Hard Yellow Maize on the Peruvian Coast Agrochemicals <i>Cavia porcellus</i> inorganic fertilizer flint corn proximate analysis corn grain protein |
| title | Guinea Pig Manure and Mineral Fertilizers Enhance the Yield and Nutritional Quality of Hard Yellow Maize on the Peruvian Coast |
| title_full | Guinea Pig Manure and Mineral Fertilizers Enhance the Yield and Nutritional Quality of Hard Yellow Maize on the Peruvian Coast |
| title_fullStr | Guinea Pig Manure and Mineral Fertilizers Enhance the Yield and Nutritional Quality of Hard Yellow Maize on the Peruvian Coast |
| title_full_unstemmed | Guinea Pig Manure and Mineral Fertilizers Enhance the Yield and Nutritional Quality of Hard Yellow Maize on the Peruvian Coast |
| title_short | Guinea Pig Manure and Mineral Fertilizers Enhance the Yield and Nutritional Quality of Hard Yellow Maize on the Peruvian Coast |
| title_sort | guinea pig manure and mineral fertilizers enhance the yield and nutritional quality of hard yellow maize on the peruvian coast |
| topic | <i>Cavia porcellus</i> inorganic fertilizer flint corn proximate analysis corn grain protein |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3145/4/2/6 |
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